Sugar - is it or isnt it?

[JoshGains]

Well, sugar isn’t it, or at least that what appears to be the case. After all my hope and positivity, after not having had palpitations for over a month whilst away travelling, it all came crashing down to earth with a bump, literally. I was cycling into town before Christmas and another cyclist pulled out in front of me. I crashed into him and we both fell over. No injuries but I was shaken up. Almost immediately by palpitations clicked in and I’ve been the same ever since. Days with palpitations followed by a day or so without, post exercise usually. My current bout has lasted 5 days and counting. I am down to have the ablation surgery next month. I don’t want it - I don’t like the idea of tissue being destroyed in such a sensitive part of the body. As a friend of mine put it recently, when it comes to aspects of medical science "We don't know what we don't know" and I worry of course that these operations may have effects that we don’t yet know anything about. Anyway, I am going to go ahead with it because I’ve been told if successful it will improve things dramatically.

[Dawsonmackay]

Okay, so how is a bicycle accident any different than an ablation? Some bicycle accidents can be ridiculously destructive (I know) and an ablation can be ridiculously helpful. Let me spell it out for OMG! Can you imagine a week or a month without Afib? How about if I were to tell you that some connective tissue in the inside of your heart (where they ablate) is not necessary... Would that make you feel better? In the Maze procedure where the EP eradicates all connective tissue that aids Afib, no patient is physically impaired for the duration of life. So ablating a few centimeter spots is okay by me. Don't make another mountain out of a mole hill as they say. You've already been through a bicycle accident with no help from anyone. In an ablation Lab, there are at least ten experts monitoring your heart and chest cavity for several hours. They know what they are doing.

[absolutepatsy in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Just wanted to say I had my ablation nearly 2 years ago and after recovery, have felt back to normal, it all went withought a hitch and I would absolutely do it again if the AF returns.

[S11m]

Another possible trigger is gluten.

[Ianc2]

See if you can beg, borrow or steal a copy of 'The Haywire Heart' by Case, Mandrola and Zinn. Case wrote 'cycling to extremes', Mandrola is an EP and Chief Cardiology Correspondent for Medscape and Zinn is a former member of the US national cycling team.

Lots of interesting case studies and useful information. Published by Velopress and you can get it on amazon.

[jondeanp]

I would say good luck with your ablation. I too was going through the same dilemma prior to my ablation of whether i wanted such an invasive procedure done on my heart. I had 18 months waiting for my date too.

I could not identify any specific triggers. I hadn't considered sugar, but i have not really taken a lot of sugar anyway.

Regardless, when my AF/ flutter was triggered it always was persistent, only going back to NSR with cardioversion.

I went through with the ablation and in my case i have been in NSR since (2 years now) 🤞.

The 2 things i do try to keep on top of is staying hydrated (using electrolyte tabs particularly after exercise) and taking magnesium taurate regularly.

All the best

[Tryfan]

My thoughts only. I have often suspected an incident of any kind that gives the heart a shock is a precursor for an AFib incident. I have had three incidents and like a lot of good people writing here try to examine in minutiae what might be triggers.

For me I'm convinced giving the heart a shock, such as jumping out of bed prior to any movement that get the heart slowly woken up first. Bike accidents, which I also have had, would definitely in my view be a contributing factor.

Best wishes for your outcome.

[Jfarreast in reply to Tryfan]

During an episode I got out of bed, tripped in a phone charging cable, slipped on a rug and fell flat on my chest. Afib stopped! Don't know if I could do that again!

[3138REDROSE in reply to Jfarreast]

Ha Ha 😂You were so lucky.!—Last June I lost balance on a step and fell (also on my chest )with a thud on garden slabs giving me a head haematoma ,that gave me black and blue bruising around eyes and cheeks, (Thanks to the Rivaroxaban), a fractured wrist requiring op.to put in titanium plate, and am still trying to reduce scars on head and wrist a year later. — BUT Still with AFib.— Thé Doctor told ME I was very lucky .

Hope your luck keeps up — Do you do the lottery ??

Best wishes and thanks for making me smile.

Red Rose

[Hidden]

Dehydration also causes Afib. If you were sweating a lot before the accident and didn't drink much water afterward that may have started your Afib. Drink lots of water over the next day or two and see if that helps. (and also keep sugars to a minimum). Good Luck!!

- Rick Hyer.

[JoshGains]

Thank you for all comments. I don't check the website that frequently. I have to say that I was in a difficult domestic/relationship situation, which ended a few weeks ago. Since then, the frequency and duration of my AF has declined dramatically. Cause and effect? Beforehand I was deliberating and cogitating as to what to do, and it was causing me a lot of anxiety. I have commitment issues, and now I have less commitment, I feel calmer. Regardless of that, my point is that AF seems to be triggered by anxious thoughts or states, and as such why is not more being done to look at the neurological causes of it, rather than purely seeking to shoot the messenger (which is basically what ablation is).